U.S. actor Philip Seymour Hoffman poses on the red carpet during a screening for the movie "The master" at the 69th Venice Film Festival in Venice September 1, 2012.(Max Rossi/Reuters)

Synecdoche, New York Part dream, part puzzle, part brainteaser, the dazzling directorial debut from award-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman stars the inimitable Philip Seymour Hoffman as a theatre director who turns his every living moment into a play. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Caden, whose problems include a failing marriage to Adele (Catherine Keener) and a career that is heading downhill fast.

Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Savages(Andrew Schwartz)

Philip Seymour Hoffman stars in the film A Late Quartet. When the beloved cellist of a world-renowned string quartet is diagnosed with a life threatening illness, the group's future suddenly hangs in the balance as suppressed emotions, competing egos and uncontrollable passions threaten to derail years of friendship and collaboration.

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman accepts the Oscar for best actor for his work in "Capote" at the 78th Academy Awards Sunday, March 5, 2006, in Los Angeles(MARK J. TERRILL/AP)

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman accepts the Oscar for best actor for his work in "Capote" at the 78th Academy Awards Sunday, March 5, 2006, in Los Angeles(KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/AP)

This photo provided by the Sundance Institute shows Philip Seymour Hoffman, right, and Rachel McAdams, front, in a scene from the film, "A Most Wanted Man," which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. After appearing in over 50 movies, 46-year-old Hoffman says working on "A Most Wanted Man" was one of the most satisfying movie-making experiences he’s had.(AP)